What are probiotics and how can they help you
When one talks about the digestive or intestinal tract, bowel, colon or gut, one doesn’t always consider the huge intricacies of what goes on within these walls. Besides all sorts of movement of fluids and digestive enzymes inside this complex maze of tubes, big and small, are various types of bacteria, healthy and not so healthy. Our gastrointestinal tract contains more than 400 species of bacteria weighing one and a half kilograms. A large number of bacteria have very important functions in our body, right from the mouth all the way down to the rectum. What these bacteria need to do to survive the continuous movement of gut contents is to multiply rapidly or attach themselves to the gut wall. They basically permanently colonise the tract so that there is homeostasis and balance, however, the balance of good and bad bacteria is vital.
The healthy bacteria is what we want to focus on and these include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bifidus or Bifidobacterium, as it is known, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Since they possess health-promoting properties they are referred to as probiotics (Greek: “pro life”). Probiotics are live bacterial supplements and make the conditions in the bowel extremely inhospitable to bad bacteria, inhibiting the growth of the bad bacteria and making room for more good bacteria to grow, promoting health and well-being. They can also cancel out the effects of toxins and environmental pollutants that you can’t avoid.
Your introduction to healthy bacteria actually starts from being breast-fed as a baby. Receiving the first couple of feeds via the breast would have ensured that the very necessary liquid called colostrum be absorbed into the babies still developing digestive tract. Colostrum contains strains of healthy bacteria which then lay down the foundation for a stronger immune system, better absorption of food and many more benefits. So being breast-fed or not will make a huge difference to the health of your digestive system.
Lactobacillus acidophilus protects the small intestine. It helps decrease the levels of harmful bacteria and produces lactase, an enzyme which is important in the digestion of milk. Lactobacillus acidophilus also manufactures some of the B vitamins including niacin, folic acid and pyridoxine during the digestive process. Bifidobacterium protects the large intestine and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which travels through the entire gut, supports the other two. Bifidobacterium infantis is the main inhabitant of every infant’s intestines.
So, in a nutshell, what can these healthy bacteria do for you?
Healthy probiotic bacteria:
- improve our immune system by producing antimicrobial substances that discourage bad bacteria. This is essential as many incapacitating and degenerative diseases start in the colon;
- increase the absorption of minerals and vitamins, such as manganese and iron thereby encouraging the growth and development of children;
- improve digestion, especially of milk products, thereby reducing the possibility of lactose intolerance;
- increase the absorption of calcium, thereby helping to prevent osteoporosis;
- manufacture B vitamins, which are essential for the nervous system and the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins;
- support the liver, which in my opinion is one of the most hard working organs in the body;
- normalise bowel functions, thereby alleviating constipation and diarrhoea;
- normalise various inflammatory reactions of the intestines. By maintaining healthy intestines, probiotics plays an important part in decreasing the chances of Crohn’s disease or even colon cancer;
- control the overgrowth of Candida albicans;
- alleviate flatulence, abdominal bloating and belching;
- detoxify carcinogens and / or prevent their formation;
- useful in the treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, allergies, migraine, gout (by reducing uric acid levels), rheumatic and arthritic conditions, cystitis, candidiasis, colitis, irritable bowl syndrome (IBS);
- help to reduce high cholesterol levels;
- protect us against harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. If an infection already exists, probiotics will prevent the growth of various pathogens.
The type of diet you eat is a major contributor to bacterial health. The bacteria thrive better on a diet full of complex carbohydrates (vegetables, whole grains, legumes) and low in animal fat, sugars and cultured dairy products. Certain drugs, especially antibiotics (i.e. against-biotics) can severely upset the delicate balance between the various groups of microbial flora within the body. Penicillin, hormonal drugs such as cortisone, HRT and birth control pills all deplete healthy bowel flora. If we look at how antibiotics affects normal intestinal flora, not only does it destroy the healthy bacteria, but it also encourages toxins to be produced which can lead to all sorts of infection. Antibiotics are extensively used to kill pathogens (which cause disease) during times of infection or to prevent infections, however, these chemicals destroy both pathogens but also the healthy bacteria too. Even when antibiotic use is discontinued, research has shown that it may take several weeks for the healthy intestinal flora to return to normal levels. So, if it is completely necessary for you to take an antibiotic, then make sure you balance and support your system by taking probiotics too. If you haven’t taken probiotics whilst taking antibiotics, it might be necessary to use large amount of probiotic bacteria to increase the colonisation, to stimulate growth and re-create harmony in the intestinal tract, thereby decreasing your chance of intestinal disturbances.
Stress also plays its part in depleting these beneficial bacteria. When one is stressed, the number of “bad” bacteria increases greatly. The level of local acidity in the body, created by stress, bad diet or digestive function will also affect the function of friendly bacteria in the body so using probiotic supplementation can and will support a healthy bowel. Pesticides and chemical additives also affect the function and availability of friendly bacteria.
There are many health conditions linked with low levels of probiotics in the body and these include: gingivitis, thrush (oral or vaginal), yeast infections, vaginitis, jock itch, cold sores, strep throat, acne, psoriasis, eczema, allergies i.e. hayfever, hyperactivity, gout, migraines, arthritis, ankylosing spondalitis, constipation, chronic diarrhoea, Crohn’s disease, colitis, malabsorption, peptic ulcers, bloating, bowel wind, chronic fatigue syndrome, urinary tract infections, nappy rash and colic.
Please bear in mind that there is a difference in which probiotics you take. Probiotics need to be refrigerated otherwise the bacteria will die. Doctors tend to prescribe interflora with antibiotics, however, this is firstly never kept in the fridge therefore the quality of healthy bacteria is very questionable, and secondly, each of these capsules contains very low amounts of the probiotics needed to counteract the effects of the antibiotics, so I believe you are really swallowing capsules of nothing. Just like everything out there, there are good quality products and bad quality products and our health needs the good stuff if you truly want to be nourished, healthy and vital.
I used to suffer from terrible pain in my colon, with bloating, indigestion, IBS (which meant alternating constipation and diarrhoea). I had previously been on a long course of antibiotics for my skin and also abused laxatives, lived on sweets for a while when I had my eating disorder and feel these all greatly contributed to the imbalance in my intestinal flora. Besides other treatments, I started taking probiotics and felt a lot of relief. The bloating and indigestion disappeared and my bowels were much more regular. I have been taking probiotics for about eight years now and feel so grateful for finding this product – it has been a lifesaver, because if my digestive system is up the wall, so am I!
There have been many clinical trials completed on the effects of probiotics with positive results. Why not try for yourself.
I distribute an excellent probiotic supplement called Intestiflora for adults and children from age 1 and upwards, and a supplement for babies called Infantiflora. Intestiflora contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum. The Infantiflora contains Bifidobacterium infantis. My prices are very affordable so should you require more information or would like to order, please contact me on 011 326 0925 or 083 321 4222.
Until next time…
Take care
Sam
For those of you who have not yet visited my website, you can check it out at
[ www.samshealthspot.co.za ]
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